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Brennan: USC false hero story a fitting start to this college football season

It is fitting that a made-up story about a Southern California football team captain jumping from a second-floor balcony to rescue his drowning 7-year-old nephew is kicking off the 2014 college football season

It is fitting that a made-up story about a Southern California football team captain jumping from a second-floor balcony to rescue his drowning 7-year-old nephew is kicking off the 2014 college football season.

I have the feeling it's going to be that kind of a year.

Jameis Winston is back. Johnny Manziel is not. Braxton Miller wanted to be but couldn't. The SEC is reloading after being denied a national title following a run of seven in a row. The Big Ten now stretches from the Atlantic Ocean almost to the foothills of the Rockies. Oh, and there's going to be an honest-to-goodness college football playoff, which will be cloaked in mystery and might settle almost nothing.

USC senior cornerback Josh Shaw is no Manti Te'o on the mythology meter, at least not yet, but he and his rescue story have become quite a distraction as the school's season opener with Fresno State approaches.

For that, USC in part has itself to blame. A number of athletic department officials expressed skepticism after talking to Shaw about his alleged leap of heroism last Saturday, yet they inexplicably went ahead and issued a news release on Monday trumpeting his tale.

On Tuesday, USC acknowledged there were questions about his story, and Shaw admitted Wednesday that he made it all up. In a statement through an attorney, Shaw now says he simply sprained both ankles in a fall, no rescue attached. He has been suspended indefinitely.

"We are extremely disappointed in Josh. He let us all down," said first-year coach Steve Sarkisian, who must just be thrilled that this is how he's kicking off his USC head coaching career.

No one at the school can be happy about this turn of ankles and events. After extraditing Pete Carroll to the NFL and Lane Kiffin to Nick Saban's watchful glare, one might have thought they had turned the proverbial corner. But no.

They, and we, might as well get used to it. This is just the way the college football season should begin, with all of us trying to separate fact from fiction, lie from legend, known from unknown. And it prepares us so well specifically for Oct. 28, the most important day of the season.

A Tuesday in October? Yes, that's the day the committee of 13 college football executives, former executives, observers, famous football fathers and a former Secretary of State — also known as the College Football Playoff selection committee — reveals its first weekly Top 25 rankings.

Think about this: With the BCS, which pretty much everyone despised, there was at least some sense of what the rankings would look like, knowing as we did that they were based on the polls and computer rankings that we saw every week.

This season, we still will have polls and computers, but we have no idea exactly how, if at all, they will be used by the committee. For eight weeks, games will be played and assumptions will be made, but the committee will remain silent.

Then, voila! A first-ever ranking of the Top 25 teams, with the top four eventually making the playoff.

What if the committee and the polls don't agree? What if the SEC commands the top four spots? What if it doesn't? What if geographic balance seems to be part of the committee's calculation? What if there appears to be a bias toward a particular committee member's school?

Can't you hear the screaming, even now?

So, here we go. We're off and running on the best and craziest time of the sports year. Or perhaps I should say we're off and jumping.​

No. 63 Arkansas State:
The Red Wolves have a continually revolving door in the coach's office, but players like J.D. McKissic (23) give the team a consistent quality that again will make them it a contender for the Sun Belt championship.
Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY Sports

No. 56 Penn State:
The Nittany Lions have maintained their widespread fan support in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal and now feel further buoyed by the arrival of new head coach James Franklin.
Matthew O'Haren, USA TODAY Sports

No. 54 East Carolina:
Running back Breon Allen will be one of the keys for East Carolina to control time of possession in 2014, which may be important considering the inexperience of its defense.
James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports

No. 51 Fresno State:
Linebacker Ejiro Ederaine (center) leads the Bulldogs onto the field for their win vs. Boise State last Sept. 20 and is back this year as one of the best players on the Fresno State roster and the Mountain West at large.
Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports

No. 50 Oklahoma State:The Cowboys have widespread turnover on their roster, but they welcome back Desmond Roland as their leading returning rusher (811 yards in 2013) and mentor to speedster Tyreek Hill.
Brendan Maloney, USA TODAY Sports

No. 47 Arizona State:
With Taylor Kelly (10) back under center, the Sun Devils should have their best offense of the Todd Graham era. But the defense may need time to find its next generation of stars.
Matt Kartozian, Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

No. 41 Mississippi State:
The Bulldogs have their share of offensive stars, but players like middle linebacker Benardrick McKinney offer proof that the defense has highly effective stars as well.
John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports

No. 39 Northern Illinois:
Running back Cameron Stingily (42) and offensive lineman Ryan Brown (78) are two of the Huskies' best players, but they also need new stars to emerge on defense.
David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports

No. 28 Texas Tech:
The Red Raiders are known for their offense, but the move of running back Kenny Williams (34) to linebacker could be one of the most important decisions of their offseason.
Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

No. 27 North Carolina:
The Tar Heels lack a tight end the quality of the departed Eric Ebron, but players like wide receiver Quinshad Davis (14) will ensure North Carolina still has a strong passing game.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports

No. 25 Boise State:
The Broncos had an extremely uncharacteristic season in 2013, but players like wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes (11) should keep them atop the Mountain West in 2014.
Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports

No. 21 Wisconsin:
Coach Gary Andersen, left, has Joel Stave (2) is in a battle for the starting quarterback position, but they both will enjoy the true luxury of having Melvin Gordon in the backfield and players like Rob Havenstein on the front line.
Mary Langenfeld, USA TODAY Sports

No. 20 Marshall:
Thundering Herd linebacker Neville Hewitt (43) and his teammates may have much to celebrate this season as Marshall is the preseason favorite for the Conference USA title.
Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports

No. 15 Clemson:
The Tigers, coming off a victory in the Orange Bowl, remain one of the top contenders for the ACC title, and if they can overcome their top two nemeses -- Florida State and South Carolina - likely will find themselves in the inaugural College Football Playoff.
Joshua S. Kelly, USA TODAY Sports

No. 14 Georgia:
Bulldogs like cornerback Damian Swann (5) and offensive tackle Zach DeBell (76) had a lot to celebrate in 2013, but they are looking for a healthier and even more successful 2014.
Daniel Shirey, USA TODAY Sports

No. 13 USC:
The Trojans have one of the two best defenses in the Pac-12, and players like tailback Javorius Allen (37) and wide receiver Nelson Agholor will help the team tear through opposing defenses, too.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

No. 11 Ohio State:
New quarterback J.T. Barrett will have his work cut out after being thrust into the starting job this week, but he will get great help with the presence of tight end Jeff Heuerman (86) and receiver Devin Smith (9).
Trevor Ruszkowski, USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 Oklahoma: The Sooners had three big celebrations to end 2013. Can quarterback Trevor Knight rekindle the touch that led to that success?
Jan 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight (9) and teammates celebrate after the Sooners recovered the ball on an on side kick against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 45-31. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports

No. 9 Auburn:
Defensive back Jermaine Whitehead (9) and defensive lineman Gabe Wright (90) are two of the steadying forces on a defense thaqt has some questions. Meanwhile, Auburn's offense seems to have few, if any questions.
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports

No. 6 Michigan State:
The Spartans have had one of the nation's best defenses for three seasons, and the emergence of quarterback Connor Cook inn 2013 appears to be lifting the team to new heights.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 UCLA:
The Bruins have been revitalized with the pairing of coach Jim Mora, left, quarterback Brett Hundley, right, and improving and emerging talent in every position group.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Alabama:
The Crimson Tide has one of the nation's deepest backfields, and it might also have the best receiving corps in FBS. Amari Cooper (9) and O.J. Howard (88) are two of the biggest reasons why.
John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Florida State:
Cameron Erving (75) and Kermit Whitfield (7) are almost the biggest and smallest members of the Seminoles' roster, and yet they are almost equally effective in their roles.
Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports